If you have a pond near your home, you may have seen some ducks or ducks coming in and out of the water. Ducks are cute animals that are fun to draw because of their light, fluffy and colorful bodies. Plus, there's a wide variety of ducks for you to choose from! If you've never drawn a duck before, you can start with the easy methods and move on to more difficult methods to impress your friends with your new drawing skills.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Draw an American Pekin Duck (Easy Method)
Step 1. Draw the top of the question mark to make the duck's head
Start on the left side of the paper and use a pencil or marker to create a shape that looks like the top of the question mark. This will be the head of the duck and the neck.
If you're drawing on paper, turn the paper flat so you have more room to draw
Step 2. Make a sharp corner at the end, then draw a line downwards to create the neck
It's time to make the duck's beak! In front of the line of the question mark created, draw a line that bends inward, then lowers it down. You should begin to see the shape of the duck's head and neck after this step.
Even if it doesn't look as detailed yet, don't worry! You can add more features to the duck before the drawing is complete
Step 3. Create the body of the duck by drawing a curved line from the top of the neck towards the back
Think about what a duck looks like when it's sitting. Take a pen or pencil and start at the top of the duck's neck, then draw a curved line in the middle (for the duck's back). Once you've reached the end, draw a short line that curves upwards to add the duck's tail.
The body of a duck is usually three times larger than its head
Step 4. Finish the duck's body with another curved line
Take the drawing tool and drag a line from the tail to the front of the duck's neck. Curl this line so that the duck has a round body. Once you reach the neck of the duck, connect the stripes to complete the outline of the duck.
The easiest ducks to draw are those that are “sitting” or swimming in the water, especially if you are just starting to draw. That way, you don't have to draw the legs (which can be a little tricky)
Step 5. Draw details on the duck's beak
Once you have the outline of the duckling, you can start adding details. Take a pen or pencil and bring it to the duck's beak area, then make a curved line with a sharp tip in the middle to mark the top beak. Add a straight line in the lower half of the beak to mark the opening, then make a small dot in the upper corner to mark the nostrils of the duck.
The beak of the duck is slightly curved to fit the shape of its head
Step 6. Draw a circle to make the duck's eye
At the top of the duck's head, make a small circle. Color the bottom of the eye, but empty the top half so that it looks as if the sun's rays are reflecting off the duck.
Emptying certain parts of the eye is an easy trick to make your images look more professional
Step 7. Create the feather details
Give the duck wings by drawing a curved line from the middle of its body to the back, then add some swooping lines at the top as feathers. If you want to make the tail more detailed, add 2-3 stripes on the back of the duck's body to create clear and adorable feathers.
You can erase the outline of the duck's body under the tail if you use a pencil
Step 8. Paint the duck's body in white and the beak in yellow
If you want to add color to the image, use colored pencils or white crayons to color the body. After that, use yellow on the beak as a pretty contrast. Now, you've finished making the picture of the American Pekin duck to decorate the walls of your home.
Method 2 of 5: Draw Adorable Ducks
Step 1. Draw the wings by making a semicircle
Start by drawing a straight line in the center of the page. Beneath that line, draw a semicircle, with the front looking rounder than the back. This part will become the duck's wing when viewed from the side.
Adjust the proportions of the body size with the size of the wings. Usually, duck wings are about half the size of the duck's body as a whole
Step 2. Outline the head with curved lines
From the front of the wing (or the more curved part), draw a curved line towards the top and bend the line, like the top of the question mark. This section will be the head and neck of the duck. Therefore, try to draw it proportionally based on the wings that have been made.
Ducks have heads that are quite large in proportion to their bodies
Step 3. Finish the duck's neck and add the tail
Drag the line downwards from the bottom of the duck's head until it reaches the bottom of the wing. After that, draw a curved line at the back of the wing with a small tail pointing upwards.
The duck's tail is very small so make sure you draw a small one too
Step 4. Add a beak at the front of the head
Make a curved line with a pointed tip on the center of the front of the duck's head. After that, make a “V” shape that extends outwards to form the beak. Draw a line in the center of the beak to create an opening, then add a small dot at the top of the beak to draw the nostrils.
In this method, you draw the duck from the side profile so that the beak should stick out
Step 5. Draw the eyes on the sides of the duck's head
As a final touch, give the duck small eyes by drawing a circle on the side of its head. Fill the eyes with black, except for the top of the eyes to indicate the light hitting the duck's head.
Ducks have very small eyes, but you are free to make the eyes slightly larger if you want to make them look even cuter
Step 6. Color the duck with brown and black
Female ducks have a color that tends to be darker. This means that female ducks usually have brown, black, or gray fur. If you want to add color to the image, use brown as the initial color, then add black tones in some areas.
Now you have a picture of a female duck swimming in the water. You can also add blue water waves to show that the duckling is swimming, or draw a sun shining in the sky
Method 3 of 5: Draw a Melewar Duck (Mallard)
Step 1. Draw a circle as a duck's head and add a sharp beak
On the top side of the page, draw a small circle to make the duck's head. Make a “V” shape that goes out of the circle and points to one side (a little down). This shape will be the beak of the duck.
Sometimes, it's easier to start with your head to create a proportional body
Step 2. Create a water drop shape as the body of the duck
Below the head and slightly to the right, draw a large water drop shape with the pointed tip sideways and slightly downwards. The body size should be larger than the head so feel free to make the shape bigger than you think.
Step 3. Connect the head and body with the neck
Draw two curved lines from either side of the head toward the body. The duck's neck isn't always straight so you can add depth to the image by bending the lines while creating it. When you're done, draw a strip in the center of the duck's neck by making two horizontal lines (one line above the other).
- The neck of the duck usually curves outward on the part that approaches the body.
- Mewar ducks usually have white stripes that distinguish their head from the rest of their neck.
Step 4. Draw the eyes and details on the beak
At the top of the head, make small circles for the eyes. After that, draw a curved line with a dot in the middle to mark the base of the beak. Add a line in the middle of the beak to show the opening of the beak, then make a small dot for the nostril on the beak.
You can fill the eye with color at this stage, or do it later
Step 5. Add the outline of the legs with the basic lines and circles
Start by drawing two straight lines downward at the bottom of the duck's body. Add small circles under the straight lines (as ankles), then draw three more straight lines coming out of those circles, slightly to the side (as webbed feet).
Drawing duck legs is quite challenging. Therefore, it is important for you to make the outline first
Step 6. Create the wings on the top of the duck's body
Start at the bottom of the duck's neck and draw a curved line from left to right to create the wings at the top of the body. After reaching the end of the body, bend the line upwards to form an acute angle or point.
Most ducks run away holding their wings in the upper part of their bodies
Step 7. Outline the webbed feet
Take a pencil and draw outlines from the previously created straight lines and circles. Draw a line from the bottom of the body, then curve the line around the toe to create the ankle. Draw the tip of the foot with the pointed end, then connect it with the webbing to create the signature look of a duck's foot.
- Again, duck legs are hard to draw! Don't be discouraged if you need to try to draw it a few times.
- If that doesn't work, you can draw a duck swimming in the water, with its legs hidden beneath the waves.
Step 8. Color the duck with green on the head, and brown on the body
One of the things that makes the flying duck easily recognizable is its distinctive coat color. Use a green pencil or marker to color the area under the strip on the duck's neck. Use light brown on the body and wings, and yellow on the beak and legs.
If you haven't already filled the eyes with color, use black or brown
Method 4 of 5: Draw Ducks
Step 1. Make a big circle as the head of the duckling
At the top of the page, draw a large circle to form the head of the duckling. Leave a small opening at the bottom of the circle so you can connect the body to the duck's head later.
When you draw an adorable duckling, you don't have to worry about making a realistic picture so you can make a shape that is quite large
Step 2. Draw a long curved line from the head to the sides of the duck's body
Start from the left side of the head and draw a curved line to create the duck's neck. Draw another line from the right side of the head to make the duck's back, then join the lines in a single sharp point to make the duck's tail.
The body of a duckling is smaller than its head
Step 3. Make small wings on the sides of the duck's body
For the top of the wing, draw a curved line from left to right. Make a semicircle below the line, then add curved lines as the feather detail.
The ducklings' wings also tend to be smaller than the other parts because the ducklings are still developing
Step 4. Add a sharp beak on the side of the duck's head
Make a "V" shape that sticks out on the left side of the duck's head, then draw a line down the center to show the opening of the beak. Add a small dot at the top of the beak as the nostril.
Step 5. Draw big eyes in the center of the duck's head
Make a big circle in the center of the duck's head, as if the duckling was looking to the side. You can make the eyes quite large, especially if you want to create an image of a duck that looks more like a cartoon than a realistic image.
You can fill the duck's eye with black at this stage or color it later
Step 6. Paint the duck's body yellow
Most ducklings have a yellow body so the coloring process will not take long. Take a bright yellow pencil or marker and color the duckling's body. If you haven't colored the eyes yet, give your duckling black pupils and blue or brown irises.
Try positioning the ducklings with the female ducks to make a picture of the mother and the ducklings
Method 5 of 5: Drawing a Pond and Ducks
Step 1. Sketch the body, head, and details of the mother duck
Start by drawing the largest duck or female duck in the center of the page. Make a water drop shape as the body of the duck, then connect the small circle and the body with the neck of the duck as the basic outline. Add a "V" shape for the beak, then create small wings on the sides of the body.
Keep in mind that the duck will swim in the water so you don't have to worry about drawing the legs
Step 2. Add 2-3 little ducklings
While imagining the body size of the mother duck, sketch 2-3 small ducklings around the mother. Add the neck and head too, then give it fluffy wings.
The mother duck is usually always surrounded by her chicks
Step 3. Make the ducks see each other by giving them eyes
To give your ducks some character, draw a circle on the side of each duck's head. If you want to make all the ducklings look more adorable, make all the ducklings look at the mother duck so that the chicks seem familiar with the mother.
This step also makes other people feel more connected to your image (besides, your image will look even cuter!)
Step 4. Draw water waves under the ducks
Since the ducks are above the water, they are not completely still and "float". Just below each duck, draw small curved lines (like when you drew feathers on each duck).
If you want to create a quieter wave, draw small circles instead of the wave lines
Step 5. Add the outline of the pond
Make a big circle around the ducks as a barrier to the pond visited by the flock of ducks. If you want, you can also add grass on the edge of the pond.
You are free to fill the entire page with a pool, or make it a small part of the image. The decision is yours
Step 6. Draw some trees or hills
In the background, add spiky spruce trees by making sharp, jagged lines in the triangular shape. If you want to add a line of hills or mountains, create a few semicircles behind the pond to make the image look more immersive.
You can also add large clouds, colorful flowers, or hanging vines. This is your pool so you are free to be as creative as you want
Step 7. Color the image to make it stand out more
Since the big duck drawn is a female, choose brown and gray for her body, but use yellow for the beak. You can use the same yellow color for the ducklings. Add blue as the pond water and fill the plants with green, then choose a lighter blue for the sky.
Now you can show off your duck pond pictures to your friends and family
Tips
- Drawing is a skill that takes time so don't get upset if you have to try it over and over again.
- Try looking for real duck pictures for reference to look at as you draw.
